Gransport Steering Wheel Repair

P

PaulZR

New Member
Messages
17
Hello all

A search on this has yielded no results so I thought I would ask the question directly.

The steering wheel on my '05 Gransport has a couple of hairline cracks in the lacquer on the piece of (possibly fake?) carbonfibre that forms the top of the wheel. The largest is about 1cm long and was present when I bought the car and another tiny one has appeared in the last few weeks.

The damage is not noticable when driving and is merely an aesthetic irritation, but in an ideal world they wouldn't be there. Has anyone on here successully repaired similar wear and tear or is a replacement wheel the only, probably prohibitively expensive option?

Thanks
Paul
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
Pretty sure that's not fake carbon, so no idea if it can be repaired.

They are a **** of a cost, I quite fancied one...

C
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
Hi Paul, both my GS's have had the same issue, its basically sun damage.

On my current one, I wet sanded it with wet and dry 3000 grit, then polished it up with T cut back to its mirror finish. The cracks were hairline on mine and have 100% come out.

Worst case scenario, you sand through the very thick lacquer and have to end up having it resprayed and that would not cost more than £100.

Hardest part is removing the wheel, something I am going to do this afternoon to fit cruise control stalk.
 
P

PaulZR

New Member
Messages
17
Cheers chaps

Mine is parked outside so sun damage makes sense, think I'll start covering the wheel when it's not going to be used for a few days.

On the original crack it looks like the lacquer has 'lifted' on either side of the crack, which would presumably mean it would have to be sanded back completely and then re-lacquered. Sounds like the sort of thing that could lead to damage of the carbon fibre if I'm not careful, might see if the guys at the Supercar Centre (where its currently receiving a service + new lower arm + various other bits) can recommend someone with a suitably steady hand.

Thanks
Paul
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,631
You can take the wheel off in about 10 minuets, I just did it.

1. Turn the battery off
2. undo the 2 airbag retaining screws on the back of the wheel.
3. Lift out the airbag
4. undo the wiring multi plugs to the horn
5. Undo the 4 hex screws and the steering wheel comes away
 
M

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
Conaero said:
You can take the wheel off in about 10 minuets, I just did it.

1. Turn the battery off
2. undo the 2 airbag retaining screws on the back of the wheel.
3. Lift out the airbag
4. undo the wiring multi plugs to the horn
5. Undo the 4 hex screws and the steering wheel comes away
Click to expand...

How long did you wait after turning the battery off before removing the airbag? I think the recommendation is 30 minutes? Are the airbag screws on the back the same as the 3200 - the star shape with a hole in the middle?
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,789
Never understood the waiting bit, but it makes me feel more comfortable.

Glad to know my assumption of the wheel removal was right

C
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,631
MAF260 said:
How long did you wait after turning the battery off before removing the airbag? I think the recommendation is 30 minutes? Are the airbag screws on the back the same as the 3200 - the star shape with a hole in the middle?
Click to expand...

Erm, I didn't. Battery off, maybe 5 mins before I removed the airbag....twice.
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
The airbag will still have a charge whenever you take it out, you just do not want any power on to trigger it..!!
 
hodroyd

hodroyd

Member
Messages
14,150
As far as I know there is an actual explosive charge built in to the airbag, which is triggered by an electrical current..!!
 
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